December 4, 2024 at 06:01PM
U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Eric Schmitt called for an investigation into the Defense Department’s failure to secure communications from foreign spies after the “Salt Typhoon” hack. Concerns include DOD’s $2.7 billion contract with vulnerable telecoms and the lack of encryption and cybersecurity audits for phone networks.
### Meeting Takeaways
1. **Call for Investigation**: Senators Ron Wyden and Eric Schmitt have requested an investigation by the Defense Department’s Inspector General into the Pentagon’s failure to secure communications against foreign espionage, particularly following the “Salt Typhoon” hack.
2. **Vulnerability Concerns**: The senators highlighted that despite the DOD signing a $2.7 billion contract for wireless services, it was aware that the networks of these companies were susceptible to foreign surveillance.
3. **Recent Security Breaches**: The FBI and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency confirmed that Chinese government hackers accessed telecommunications companies, compromising sensitive call information related to high-profile figures.
4. **Lack of Cybersecurity Measures**: The senators criticized the DOD for not securing communications with end-to-end encryption and not leveraging its purchasing power to ensure cybersecurity from wireless carriers.
5. **Details on DOD’s Cybersecurity Protocols**:
– DOD has attempted to obtain cybersecurity audits from phone carriers, which have refused due to attorney-client privilege.
– The DOD is still assessing its authority to conduct its own audits of the carriers.
– DOD has determined that the use of unencrypted phone lines does not pose an unnecessary risk, opting not to ban their usage by personnel.
6. **Next Steps**: The senators are urging for policy changes that would enhance cybersecurity measures to protect communications from foreign adversaries.
7. **Source of Full Information**: The full letter from Senators Wyden and Schmitt can be accessed for more detailed insights.